Edgefield County, SC

County Name: 
Edgefield
State: 
South Carolina

Total population (1850): 39,262
Enslaved population (1850): 22,725
Percent slave: 58%
Extant nineteenth-century inquests: 524
Date range: 1829-1899
Percentage of violent crimes in county sample: 39% (202/524)

The small, rural district of Edgefield, South Carolina was the Deadwood of its day, amassing a reputation for murder and mayhem unique in the nation. Forget the gangs of New York, the toughs in tailored suits strutting about Edgefield's Court House Square were up for almost anything. Take this typical exchange between Thomas Cherry and Charles Cobb.

Cherry: "You Damn puppy."

Cobb: "What are you?"

Cherry: "Do you mean to call me a Damn puppy?"

Cobb: "What are you?"

Cherry: "If you call me a Puppy, I will ag you in the face."

Cobb: "You are nothing else."

With that Cherry stabbed Cobb through the face with an umbrella.

"If we over in Edgefield insult each other, there is generally a fight or a funeral afterwards."

"If we over in Edgefield insult each other, there is generally a fight or a funeral afterwards," noted Ben Tillman, one of the ten men of the district to serve the state as governor. Like Tillman, circuit judge Thomas Mackey took an almost perverse pride in the region's reputation. "I am going to hold court in Edgefield," he told a friend, "and I expect a somewhat exciting term, as the fall shooting is about to start."

Like most reputations, Edgefield's was at once deserved and exaggerated. At 39 percent, Edgefield County does have the highest proportion of violent crimes in the CSI:D sample. At 35 percent, Greenville County is not that far behind. More important, Edgefield's reputation for affairs of honor masks the mountain of dishonorable violence revealed by the morgue. Men spoiling for a fight on the street are rarely much different at home. In June 1893, Bill Gasten was sitting near his wood pile when his wife emerged from the house to draw some water from the well. Something she said set him off and he grabbed up a walking stick, hit her with it, then threw her down and began choking her. Emerging from the kitchen, her sister grabbed up the stick and told Bill to "let his wife alone." She had just started back to the kitchen when Bill cracked her head with a hoe.

Edgefield County, SC Inquests

Displaying 301 - 350 of 524
Name Deceased Description Date Inquest Location Death Type Death Methodsort descending
George Robinson January 12, 1892 at the plantation of E. B. Davis Natural Causes
Alexander P. Kennard February 16, 1847 in the District Natural Causes
Bob negro September 23, 1864 in the District Natural Causes
William Anderson April 14, 1864 at the plantation of T.[?] S Boles Natural Causes
Susan Medlock April 7, 1894 at Johnston Homicide
Eunice Hogan October 26, 1851 at the house of John Briskey Homicide
Milledge Stuard October 8, 1881 at Mount [??] Yard Natural Causes
Curry slave March 17, 1856 at Mrs Elizabeth Middletons Plantation Accident
Ann Kimball September 4, 1895 at China grove church Homicide
Nancy Slave June 19, 1847 at the house of Mrs G. Rily's Suicide
Lidda Hampton November 24, 1893 at A Derrecks Natural Causes
Dave Gillam August 25, 1892 at the house of Cal Smiths Homicide
A. G. Howard February 28, 1860 at Grannet Ville Depot Accident
Sallie Young December 8, 1890 at Mr A. F Broadwaters Plantation Accident
Elmira Jackson May 18, 1884 at George Holingsworths House Accident
Tephius[?] Cornwall January 14, 1845 on one of the Public Streets of the Town of Hamburg Natural Causes
William White December 10, 1898 at Savanah River Accident
infant child infant child November 17, 1891 at Mr M Toneys place Unknown
John Hester May 13, 1846 at Hamburg in the shop of J.J. Kenedy Accident
Hardy Boulware January 2, 1862 at Hardy Boulwares Homicide
infant, child infant, child November 29, 1894 at the plantation of J. P. Roton Natural Causes
Dinah Woman Slave May 22, 1849 at Allen Griffith Natural Causes
infant child infant child January 18, 1892 at the Plantation of L. G. Swearinger Accident
Abram negro man Slave August 21, 1850 at Henry L Maysons Accident
George Watkins October 10, 1866 at George Watkins Homicide
Edmond Smallwood October 19, 1892 at E. C. Ridgells Plantation Natural Causes
W. T. Mathis November 11, 1897 at the Yeldell place Natural Causes
Larrence Valentine December 28, 1893 at Mt[?] Willing Accident
Gus West October 11, 1883 at Jack Holms Unknown
Lewis negro man March 20, 1846 at & in the Revd Mr. Brooks Plantation Accident
Lona May Hamilton child October 18, 1893 at or near Longmires PO[?] Natural Causes
Ora Weaver February 21, 1891 at the plantation of D B. H Holfarth[illegible - ink blot] Accident
Elick Youngblood child March 21, 1881 at S[?] R Warren Homicide
Charles M. Creswell August 5, 1869 at Edgefield CH Homicide
Belaus[Velaus?] slave, boy March 30, 1863 at Robert Smiths Accident
Alice Adkinson October 18, 1898 at Republican Church Homicide
Edmond Price April 30, 1892 at Kennys Graveyard Unknown
John David Twiggs September 15, 1864 in Hamburg Homicide
Thomas Welheu[?] June 19, 1868 at Benjamin Better[?] wheat field on the Columbia & Augusta Rail Road Accident
Sarah Lucas October 30, 1890 at Mr. M L Holson Accident
Tom negro man Slave August 21, 1850 at H. L. Maysons in Beach island Accident
Jack negro boy May 14, 1852 at the house of H. W. Posey Accident
Henry slave, boy May 1, 1857 at Arthur Glovers House, Horns Creek Accident
Mahlon Jones December 25, 1891 at Landrams Farm Homicide
Solomon negro man June 24, 1844 near the Mill of George A. McKee on Stevens Creek Accident
James Mitchell February 18, 1879 at L D Laudrums Natural Causes
Sindy Brighthop August 21, 1898 on S.W. Gardners place Homicide
Thomas child of Thomas M Chandler September 11, 1850 at Thos M. Chandler's house, and at the old Pottery Accident
Rebeca Eidson May 29, 1861 at the Residence of William Eidson Natural Causes
Al White October 12, 1898 at Mundy[?] Place Homicide

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